What is it about?
Imagine a modern ship that uses both its propeller and the power of the wind, through sails or rotating cylinders, to move forward. This approach helps save fuel and reduce emissions, but it also makes the way the ship moves and steers more complex. This study looks at how the ship's hull, the propeller, and the rudder interact under different conditions. It explores what happens when the ship drifts slightly sideways because of the wind or when the rudder is turned to keep the ship on course. By understanding how these parts work together, the research can help ship designers create cleaner, more efficient ships that are easier to control.
Featured Image
Photo by B-joy Abraham on Unsplash
Why is it important?
As shipping moves toward greener solutions, wind-assisted ships are becoming more common. But adding wind power does not just reduce fuel use, it also changes how the ship moves, steers, and uses energy. Until now, there has been very little data on the hydrodynamic performance of wind-assisted vessels. This study is unique because it provides real experimental data on these interactions and offers benchmark data for future numerical simulations. The findings will help ship designers and operators steer more safely and efficiently, avoid wasting energy, and design smarter, more eco-friendly ships for the future.
Perspectives
Writing this article was a rewarding experience because it brought together expertise from ship hydrodynamics, experimental testing, and wind-assisted propulsion. I believe this work fills an important knowledge gap and will support both researchers and industry in designing cleaner, more efficient ships. More than anything, I hope this paper helps bridge the gap between experimental data and advanced simulations, and inspires more collaboration to make wind-assisted shipping a practical and reliable solution for a greener maritime industry.
Saeed Hosseinzadeh
University of Southampton
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Influence of hull–propeller–rudder interaction on the self-propulsion of wind-assisted ships, Physics of Fluids, August 2025, American Institute of Physics,
DOI: 10.1063/5.0281083.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Dataset in support of the paper 'Experimental dataset of a model-scale ship in calm water and waves'
This dataset presents the data of a series of experiments carried out on a self-propelled model-scale of KRISO Container Ship (KCS) hull in the University of Southampton’s Boulderwood towing tank. The dataset comprises .csv, .xlsx files, and videos documenting the experiments conducted under various conditions, including calm water and waves.
Experimental dataset of a model-scale ship in calm water and waves
This article presents data derived from a series of experiments conducted on a scaled model ship, examining its performance in both calm water and regular waves. The acquisition of high-quality experimental data is essential for refining Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and modifying analytical methods to evaluate the powering performance of ships. Despite notable advancements in numerical models, there exists a corresponding imperative to elevate the precision of measurements and insights obtained from towing tank tests. Accordingly, a self-propelled model-scale of the KRISO Container Ship (KCS) hull is used to assess hydrodynamic performance of ships and investigate the interaction between the hull, propeller, and rudder. A set of captive model tests is carried out on the single-screw KCS model in the University of Southampton's Boldrewood towing tank. The model-scale experiments are conducted in an offloaded propeller condition at ship's design speed, which is characterised by a specific Froude number of 0.26. Various test configurations are explored, encompassing four rudder angles, five leeway angles, two wave conditions, and two propeller speeds. Throughout the experiments, multiple parameters were recorded, including the wave environment, ship motions, hull forces and moments, propeller thrust and torque, as well as rudder forces and moments. Initial analysis of the data involved comparing the calm water resistance results with previously published experimental data, revealing a favourable agreement. Additionally, video footage captured from two different angles during various runs serves as illustrative samples of the experimental procedures. This comprehensive series of experiments offers a benchmark for future research endeavours, providing a foundation for refining subsequent experiments, validating numerical methods, and enhancing mathematical models.
Contributors
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